1
King Ahasuerus laid tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.
2
All the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the annals of the kings of Media and Persia?
3
For Mordecai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was powerful among the Jews and popular with his many kindred, for he sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all his descendants.
4
And Mordecai said, "These things have come from God;
5
for I remember the dream that I had concerning these matters, and none of them has failed to be fulfilled.
6
There was the little spring that became a river, and there was light and sun and abundant water—the river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen.
7
The two dragons are Haman and myself.
8
The nations are those that gathered to destroy the name of the Jews.
9
And my nation, this is Israel, who cried out to God and was saved. The Lord has saved his people; the Lord has rescuedus from all these evils; God has done great signs and wonders, wonders that have never happened among the nations.
10
For this purpose he made two lots, one for the people of God and one for all the nations,
11
and these two lots came to the hour and moment and day of decision before God and among all the nations.